[Yao cosplay] A spirit deer in the deep blue waves, embodying the agile posture of the Honor of Kings canyon

A lot of effort was put into the fabric selection of this Yao costume. To restore the character's light and ethereal texture, the skirt specially adopted a multi-layered overlay of tulle fabrics. The gradient splicing of light blue and dark blue, combined with translucent pearlescent gauze, allows the skirt hem to naturally refract a shimmering wave-like effect when walking. To enhance visual layering, pearls of varying sizes were hand-sewn onto the skirt hem and waist, and the tassel pendants at the shoulders were repeatedly adjusted to ensure they sway naturally with movements during the shoot.

The precision of wig trimming and styling customization directly affects character accuracy. The silver-white wig chosen this time has a natural fluffy feel, trimmed with blunt bangs, and a small hair bun at the back of the head. The most energy-consuming part was the pair of blue gradient horns on top of the head; to ensure weight balance and prevent backward sagging, a complex internal support structure was made. The pointy elf ears also needed angle adjustments according to the face shape, which, paired with bright blue contact lenses, could present that ethereal and otherworldly temperament in front of the lens. Matching this styling's blue staff, the prop surface was sprayed with metallic paint and gradient pearlescent finish, giving it a very solid texture.

On the shooting day, photographer Merlin and I worked through quite a few actions. Since this outfit features a large amount of floating gauze and skirt hems, motion capture became the focus. The high-kick action in the pictures looks light, but it actually has high demands on the costume's movement space; the white leggings (white stockings) and boots inside had to be fixed in position to prevent wardrobe malfunctions while keeping the actions extended and graceful. The water element special effects gathered in the hand were the aspect that consumed the most effort in post-processing, from the refracted light of the water sphere to the swirling trajectory of the water tornado, all designed to match the staff's power exertion and spellcasting actions, maximizing the magical feel of the water attribute.

Special mention goes to the spirit deer formed by converging water in the frame. To achieve perfect water splashing effects in post-production, we not only simulated spellcasting actions on site, but also pre-designed the wrapping trajectories of the water waves around the body. I tried various states such as sitting, standing, and airborne, using body language to match the flow direction of the special effects. The whole process felt more like completing a dynamic ink wash painting; from the subtle textures of the wig to the flying curves of the skirt hem, every detail was meant to convey the character's resonance with natural elements. Looking at the intertwined light and shadow of the aquamarine tones in the finished pictures, that immersive feeling of being surrounded by deep blue waves made all the tedious preparation work entirely worthwhile.